Police operatives attached to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) have raided an illegal petroleum refining operation in Edo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who announced this in a statement on Sunday, said the development followed the interception of intelligence on activities of an alleged illicit petroleum products refining syndicate operating adjacent to Agbor Junction, Benin City, Edo State, via a whistleblower.
The statement revealed that three empty DAF trucks, and 31 immobile surface tanks – 7 of which were loaded with an unspecified quantity of petroleum products, were discovered by the police.
Adejobi said two suspects, one Chinedu Iyanabor, aged 18, and Sunday Iyagbesun, aged 52, were also arrested during the raid.
According to him, preliminary investigations reveal that the site was also used as a dump site for petroleum products.
He said all suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.